UNITED CUP

January 5, 2026

Iga Swiatek

Hubert Hurkacz

Team Poland

Press Conference

Team Poland - 2

Team Germany - 0

THE MODERATOR: We've got our two singles winners here, Iga and Hubi. Have a couple of words each your respective matches, please.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, just very happy to be back competing again. It was a difficult match against Sascha, and I was quite happy with my performance.

Definitely was, yeah, waiting for the moment to come back and play. I was enjoying the competition and came up with a win, so definitely even better ending.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, for sure it was a tough start of the season. I think Eva really put pressure on me from the beginning. Yeah, I needed to get my game levelled up and find the right rhythm. I'm happy that I played a little bit better in the second set.

For sure it was a tough match in terms of the tight score. So I'm happy that in the third set in important moments I went for it, and I could break again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. For both of you, obviously you've nearly qualified, but qualification is not sure yet because you've still got a match to play. Do you think that it's tough to back up and play mixed doubles even when qualification is on the line? Casper didn't play as well. And, Iga, just for you as well, you seemed to be having some discussions with the umpire through the match and was just wondering what those were about as well?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I have no idea how the qualification looks like. I don't know if I want to know.

HUBERT HURKACZ: It's okay.

THE MODERATOR: It's because you have to play Netherlands.

IGA SWIATEK: What do you mean the qualification is on the line?

Q. (Off microphone.)

HUBERT HURKACZ: I mean, we have a great team. We're playing mixed doubles right now.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, we have a great doubles team anyway.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah.

IGA SWIATEK: So they're winning, by the way. Let's see. Oh, I was talking with the umpire because there was someone constantly talking to me behind my back. Polish fans are excited.

Q. (Off microphone.)

IGA SWIATEK: I think it depends on the singles. You know, my match was long, and I was a bit tight at the beginning, so it always costs you a little bit more with your body. So I think, also, it's smart for me just to recover and be ready for my singles in two days.

Q. It will be two years ago you played Sascha at this United Cup.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah, don't remind me about this match, please (smiling).

Q. Well, I was going to ask if that came into your mind at all on this occasion, because you had a couple of match points on that two years ago.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Actually, not so much, to be honest. Of course, I mean, yeah, I remember this match quite well actually. Yeah, saw some highlights from it. Some days I go, they're passing by on TV.

Yeah, it was very close together win that time. I was just obviously not playing for so long. I was just trying to focus on different things what we've been working on, on the tactics on the match, and just compete.

Q. Iga, the previous three matches that you had played against Eva have been so one-sided. What made the difference today? In a match like that are you able to enjoy what's going on court, because it was such a high-quality match with a great atmosphere?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I did enjoy the first set, because I knew I have work to do. I just focused on that.

Later on, I would say throughout the whole match it was kind of clear for me what was happening. I wasn't, like, so in my emotions to not see, you know, how it looked like.

I know she went for it. She played some amazing down the lines in the first set. Like from balls I wouldn't expect anyone to play down the line. It went in. Good for her. Congrats. But I knew I have work to do, so I just tried to change some stuff in the second set.

Yeah, I would say I enjoyed it, because I had opportunity to work in these tough moments. It wasn't the easiest. Obviously it's easy to win with nice, easy score, but you also need to appreciate competing. You know, what Hubi kind of said.

So I was ready to compete, and even though the tennis wasn't from my side perfect, I made some unforced serves as well, I just tried to compete, and I'm happy that I did that.

Yeah, I think I answered.

Q. Hubi, I'm just curious, as you're in the pressure moments, in the tight moments, I assume that's what you've been waiting for all the months when you are doing all the rehab and all of that. How did it feel compared to how you were sort of envisioning it all those months?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, definitely, yeah, I was eager and waiting for those moments to come for so long, being able to play and compete. Well, I mean, I've been putting also so much work into, like, all different things what I could work on without playing so much tennis.

So I think I was quite ready for the pressure moments and, of course, like normal, that maybe had a little bit higher tension out there, but I felt actually was quite manageable and actually better than before . So really excited about that.

Q. Iga, if you don't mind, just for someone who knows what it takes to be at that level, what does it say about Hubi to be gone? How difficult is that to be away for so long, I don't think you've had to deal with that, but then to come back and play like that?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I had a long break once, but I was 16, so it's a totally different story. I think you need to just be brave, and that's what Hubi did today.

He wasn't thinking about, yeah, that he -- I don't know what you thought about. That's a stupid way to start a sentence, but I think that he wasn't thinking much about the break. He was just, yeah, happy with being --

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah? Is this true?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Happy, yes.

IGA SWIATEK: Happy to be competing, and that's what kind of gave him the energy. I feel like, you know, you can approach this in different ways. I think the best kind of approach is, you know, not to play with expectations, like, accept that you might feel a bit tense in the, I don't know, facing a break point or something, but it's how you deal with this.

I think Hubi did it great today. I was really impressed.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Thank you.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I was. I was. No, really. I was, like, wow.

I had to really rush with my warmup because you did so great, and I was expecting, like, I don't know, a long match. I don't know why because both guys play with these big serves. I thought when you broke him, like, wow, I should get ready.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Get ready.

IGA SWIATEK: I was impressed and happy that Hubi is back.

HUBERT HURKACZ: Thanks. Likewise, Iga. Great job today. Let's go, Poland.